WindyCityOperaman
On this day in 1904, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly had its “disastrous” premiere at La Scala.
On this day in 1966 the Metropolitan Opera debut of tenor Alfredo Kraus as the Duke of Mantua.
On this day in 1938, Lillian Hellman’s play The Little Foxes opened at the National Theatre to run 410 performances.
Happy 60th birthday to soprano, actress, media personality, creative consultant and parterre box muse Renée Fleming.
Happy 95th birthday director and designer Franco Zeffirelli.
On this day in 1966 soprano Pilar Lorengar made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Donna Elvira.
A joyous 92nd birthday to Miss Mary Violet Leontyne Price.
On this day in 1974 soprano Kiri Te Kanawa made an “emergency” Met debut as Desdemona.
On this day in 1996 mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli made her Metropolitan Opera stage debut as Despina.
On this day in 1928 soprano Grace Moore made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Mimi.
On this day in 1968 mezzo-soprano Fiorenza Cossotto made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Amneris.
On this day in 1959 soprano Leonie Rysanek made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Lady Macbeth.
On this day in 2006 tenor Jonas Kaufmann made his Metropolitan Opera debut in La traviata.
Born on this day in 1887 poet and librettist Gertrude Stein.
On this day in 1893, the premiere of Puccini’s Manon Lescaut in Turin.
On this day in 1974 Verdi’s I Vespri Siciliani had its first Metropolitan Opera house performance.
On this day in 1957 soprano Martha Mödl made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Brünnhilde in Siegfried.
On this day in 1781: the premiere of Mozart’s Idomeneo in Munich.
Born on this day in 1873 writer Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette.
On this day in 1974, Carol Channing opened in the musical Lorelei at the Palace Theatre. The show ran 320 performances.